Synergism between iron porphyrin and dicationic ionic liquids: tandem CO2 electroreduction–carbonylation reactions

Here, we report a simple procedure that drastically reduces the electrochemical E(FeI/Fe0) and E0cat of the commercially available iron(III) tetraphenylporphyrin chloride (FeIIITPP·Cl) catalyst via a synergetic effect with the imidazolium dications of the ionic liquid electrolyte. This procedure enhanced the performance of catalytic systems in the electrochemical production of CO and enabled us to perform different tandem CO2 reduction-carbonylation reactions under mild conditions.